JUNE is officially ‘Saleng Festival’ in Baguio City

Baguio City, Philippines – With the approval of Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the ‘Saleng Festival’ in Baguio City is now institutionalized.

‘Saleng’ is the local term for the Pine Tree, of which the city is known for.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio, through a press release disclosed that the City Mayor signed on January 21, 2022 the proposed ordinance for the said purpose.

“The Saleng Festival shall take off every month of June during a regular Monday flag-raising ceremony to unveil the calendar of activities lined up for the four-month long celebration from June to September of each year,” SP-Baguio City stated.

SP-Baguio City explained that before the ordinance was passed, a public consultation was conducted by the city council thus, programs are based on the inputs of stakeholders and those implemented by the City Environment and Parks Management Office.

In support of international Day for Biological Diversity, the institutionalization of the said festival shall ‘encourage Baguio citizens to be proactive partners of the city government in its urban forest stewardship management program, thereby building community ownership of urban trees and forests.’

To be able to carry out the programs, a total of P200,000 will be allocated in the annual budget of the CEPMO.

Among the major activities to be held during the festival are Tree Cart Parade, Tree Cart Exhibit, Recognition and Awarding of Best Tree Cart, International Day for Biological Diversity, World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Day National Arbor, National Clean-Up Month and World Clean and Green Week, Green Thumb Awards, and Cycling for the Environment.

It can be recalled that the city launched its first Saleng Festival where Mayor Magalong underscored that the festival ‘was brought into existence to highlight the importance of the cooperation and commitment of the community in preserving the environment.’

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